Glossary of Terms

-A-

Age tsuki - rising punch

Age uke - rising block

Anata wa - and you?

Antei - balance

Arigato gozaimasu - thank you

Ashi - leg

Ashi barai - leg sweep

Atama - head

Ato de - Later

-B-

Bo - Six foot staff (Weapon)

Bojutsu - Art of the Bo

Bunkai - The application of a move in a kata

Bushi - Warrior

Bushido - Way of the warrior

-C-

Chudan - Middle area

Chudan uke - Middle block

-D-

Dachi - Stance

Dai (Dai Ichi) - Number

Dai (Passai Dia) - Greater, major

Dai sempai - Most senior student

Dan - Black belt rank

Deashibarai - Forward foot sweep

Denwa - Telephone

Do - The way or path

Do itashimashite - You are welcome

Dojo - Place to train

Domo arigato gozaimasu - Thank you very much

Dozo - Please

-E-

Eku - Oar (Weapon)

Embusan - Direction (imaginary line) of fighting movements

Empi - Elbow

-F-

Fukyu - Fundamental, basic

Fumi komi - Stomping (kick)

-G-

Gedan - Lower area

Gedan uke - Lower block

Genki desu - I am fine

Geri - Kick

Gi - Karate uniform

Go - Hard or #5

Gyaku tsuki - Reverse punch

-H-

Hachiji dachi - Open stance

Hai - Yes

Haishu - Back of hand

Haisoku - Instep of foot

Haito - Ridge of hand

Hajime - Begin

Hanshi - Grand Master

Hara - Abdomen, center of Ki

Hayaku - Quickly

Heiko dachi - Parallel stance

Heisoku dachi - Closed foot stance

Hidari - Left

Hiji - Elbow

Hiji - Elbow smash

Hiza - Knee

-I-

Iie, wakarimasen - No, I do not understand

Ikaga desu ka - How are you

Ikimashou - Let's go

Ima - Now

Ippon ken - One knuckle fist

Itchoku sen - Straight line

-J-

Jiyu kumite - Free style sparring

Jo - Four foot staff

Jodan - Upper area

Jodan uke - Upper block

Ju - Soft or the #10

Judan - 10th Degree Black Belt

Jutsu - Art

-K-

Kakato - Heel of foot

Kake geri - Hook kick

Kama - Sickle (Weapon)

Kamae - Fighting stance

Kansetsu - Knuckles

Kao - Face

Kara - Empty

Karate - Empty hand

Karate do - The way of the empty hand

Kata - Predetermined form

Keage - Snap (kick)

Keiko - Practice drill

Kekomi - Thrust (kick)

Ki - Spirit

Kiai - Spirit shout

Kiba dachi - Horse riding stance

Kihon - Basic

Kime - Focus

Kimochi - Attitude

Kin geri - Groin kick

Kiotsuke - Attention

Kobudo - Ancient martial ways

Kobujutsu - Art of ancient weapons

Kohai - Junior

Kokegi - Attacher

Koko - Here

Kokoro - Mind, heart, spirit, feeling

Kokusai - International

Kokutsu dachi - Back stance

Konban wa - Good evening

Konnichi wa - Good afternoon, hello

Kootai - Switch (partners)

Koroshi waza - Killing technique

Kosa dachi - Cross-legged stance

Koshi - Hips, ball of foot

Kudasai - Please, give me the favor of

Kumite - Practice fighting

Kuzushi - Leverage

Kyobu - Chest

Kyoshi - Karate master title (7th & 8th Degree)

Kyu - Non black belt rank

Kyushu jutsu - The art of striking vital points

-M-

Ma - Distance

Maai - Individual distance

Mae - Front

Mae geri - Front kick

Makiwara - Punching board

Maru ni natte kudasai - Make a circle

Massugu - Straight

Matte - Wait

Mawashi geri - Round house kick

Mawate - Turn

Migi - Right

Migikae tsuki - Jab punch

Mikazuki geri - Crescent kick

Modotte - Return to ready position

Mo ichido onegaishimasu? - Could you repeat it please?

Mokuso - Quiet meditation

Mokuso owari - Meditation over

Morote uke - Augmented block

Mudansha - Kyu rank holder

Mushubi dachi - Open foot, attention stance

Muzukashii - Difficult

-N-

Nage waza - Throwing technique

Nagore - Deep breathing

Naihanchi dachi - Iron horse stance

Naisan - Man, Women, boy or girl

Nan ji desu ka? - What time is it?

Narra be nassai - Line up

Neko ashi dachi - Cat leg stance

Nidan geri - Double kick

Nihongo - Japanese language

Nomimono - thing to drink

Nuhite - Spear hand

Nunchaku - Flail (Weapon)

-O-

O-haiyoo gozaimasu - Good morning

O-negai shimasu - Teach me, please

O-yasami nasai - Good night

Obi - Belt

Ot tsuki - Lunge punch

Owarimashita - Over, finished

-R-

Rei - Bow, courtesy

Renmei - Association

Renshi - Highest teacher

Renshu - To study

Ryu - School or system, way

Ryukyu - The archipelago, known as Okinawa

-S-

Sai - Truncheon (Weapon)

Sanchin dachi - Hour glass stance

Sashi buri desu ne - Long time no see

Sayonara - Good bye

Seiken - Forefist

Seiken tsuki - Straight punch

Seiza - Formal sitting posture

Sempai - Senior student

Senaka - Back of body

Sensei - Teacher, Instructor

Shiai - Match, contest

Shihan - Master instructor

Shiko dachi - Split or square stance

Shin ken - Serious

Sho - Small, minor

Shomei - Front central area of dojo

Shomen - Front

Shomen ni rei - Bow to the front

Shurey no kuni - The country that keeps respect (On our patch)

Shuto - Knife hand

Soto uke - Outside middle block

-T-

Tabemono - Food

Tai - Body

Tai sabaki - Body shifting

Takai - Expensive

Tameshi wara - Breaking

Tatami - Straw floor mat

Tate - Standing, vertical

Tate tsuki - Vertical fist punch

Te - Hand

Teisho - Palm heel

Tettsui - Hammer fist

Tobi geri - Jump kick

Tonfa - Handle (Weapon)

Tsugi - Next

Tsuyoki - Strong spirit

Tuite waza - Grappling hand technique

-W-

Wakarimasen - I do not understand

Wakarimasu - I understand

Wakarimasuka? - Do you understand?

Waza - Technique

-Y-

Yakusoku kumite - Predetermined sparring

Yame - Stop

Yasashii - Easy

Yasui - Cheap

Yoi - Ready

Yoko - Side

Yoko geri - Side kick

Yudanja - Korean term meaning Black Belts of all martial arts styles

-Z-

Zen - All